Obama’s advice to young PH leaders: Have a vision

By: Jodee A. Agoncillo - 9 years ago

Albay City councilor and Destiny Church-Bicol Pastor Sheina Marie Onrubia enthusiastically throws a question to President Barack Obama, the world’s most powerful leader during the town hall meeting of the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) fellows at the White House. Back in the Philippines, Onrubia also serves as a pastor sharing her faith in God to thousands of teenagers and helping them become leaders and successful citizens of the country. PAT BARKHUFF

“Have a vision. Stand for something.”

US President Barack Obama offered this advice to young political leaders in response to a question posed by a Tabaco City, Albay province councilor, one of 75 Asians from 10 nations chosen for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) fellowship in the United States.

Sheina Marie Onrubia, the young Albay lawmaker, was one of 10 Filipino fellows who joined elected officials, doctors, student activists, journalists, civic leaders and ministry officials from other Southeast Asian nations who were selected based on the impact of their work on their communities.

At the town hall meeting held at the White House in Washington on June 1, Onrubia, 28, asked Obama what counsel he would give budding political leaders and legislators from developing democracies like the Philippines.

“First, don’t be shy,” the US President responded. “You should help people and know what you stand for and what you believe in.”

He added: “Too many politicians (are) just climbing the ladder but don’t know why. (So) when they get there, they’re not very effective leaders (and) become much more subject to the temptations of corruption because all they’re worried about is how to cling to power. And that’s when you lose your way. You have to be willing to lose something for your principles.”

Potential of youth

Obama also explained the YSEALI program which he said was meant “to harness the extraordinary potential of youth in the region to address critical challenges and expand opportunities.”

Launched in 2013, the YSEALI is Obama’s initiative to “strengthen leadership development across Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), deepen engagement with young leaders on key regional and global challenges, and strengthen people-to-people ties between the United States and Southeast Asia.”

Fellows come from Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and are provided US and regional educational and cultural exchanges and seed funding, including project grants.

Aside from Onrubia, the Filipino fellows included Tacloban City Councilor Jose Mario Bagulaya, licensed forester Joanne Flestado, assistant city accountant Niema Remegoso and population commission planning officer Jose Augustus Villano.

Democratic process

For six weeks since April 25, the fellows participated in activities meant “to expand their skills and network in the field of entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, environment, education and civic engagement.”

Onrubia recalled that aside from meeting Obama, what she relished most was her visit to the Capitol Hill, which houses the US Congress. “As a young legislator, I would like to see the democratic process in action in Washington,” explained this political science graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Senior Pastor of Destiny Church-Bicol.

The strong advocate of teenage health said she had applied for the fellowship to get funding for a health center so it could put up a comprehensive adolescent program.

“It would enable me to empower the youth and develop them into leaders,” she explained.

Tabaco had a high rate of teenage pregnancy and rising cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the councilor said. In 2014, it recorded 318 cases of teenage pregnancies, with some mothers as young as 12.

In October, Onrubia’s US mentor will visit Albay to check on the progress of her work.

Biggest lesson

At the town hall meeting, Obama was asked the biggest lesson he has learned as a President.

“To admit you’re wrong and try something new,” he said. “(To be) able to take responsibility for hard decisions and not become paralyzed,” he added.

A Thai fellow also asked Obama: “If you were a Rohingya, what country would you like to live (in) and why?

Responded the world leader: “I would want to stay where I was born. I would stay in the land where my parents lived, but I would make sure that the government is protecting me and treating me fairly. That’s what I want. It is important that we take this issue seriously.”

He added: “The condition of the Rohingya reflects the country’s commitment to human rights, security and peace.”

Obama said he had observed that there are two characteristics of unsuccessful nations: “First, nations that divide themselves (along) religious and racial lines do not succeed. Second, nations that suppress women do not succeed.”

He added: “Do not discriminate (against) women. Not only is it bad because half of the country is not successful because they’re not getting education and opportunity … But it’s women who teach children. Which means the children are less educated if you’re not teaching the moms.”